The answer, as so often is the case in legal matters, is that it depends on your particular situation and circumstances, but in most cases, the prudent answer would be “yes” you do need an elder law attorney to help you accomplish Medicaid planning to preserve your family’s assets and qualify your loved one for Medicaid benefits to pay for nursing home care.

The social worker at your parent’s nursing home assigned to assist you with the preparation of a Medicaid application for your mother knows a lot about the program, but maybe not that one particular rule that applies in your case or the newest changes in the law, which can make all the difference in whether your mother’s application will be approved. In addition, by the time you’re applying for Medicaid, you may have missed out on significant planning opportunities, that could have helped your family preserve valuable assets.

The best option is to immediately consult with a qualified and experienced elder law attorney who can advise you on your family’s entire situation, at the first thought that a nursing home might be necessary. At the very least, the price of the consultation should purchase some peace of mind that things are being accomplished appropriately and in your family’s best interest. What you learn from such a consultation with an experienced elder law attorney can mean significant financial savings or better care for you or your loved one. Proper Medicaid planning may involve the use of trusts, transfers of assets, purchase of annuities or increased income and resource allowances for the healthy parent who is living at home.

The Medicaid laws and regulations collectively create a maze in which the non-lawyer can easily run into dead ends. The experienced elder law attorney is aware of recent changes in the law, the results of the latest “fair hearings” (which are written decisions by administrative judges ruling on appeals of Medicaid denials of benefits made by the Department of Children and Families), and information gathered from other elder law attorneys who involved in dealing with Medicaid matters on a daily basis.

Medicaid Planning Constitutes the Practice of Law and Should Be Undertaken by Elder Law Attorneys

“. . . the testimony revealed that non-lawyer Medicaid planners are essentially unregulated, as there are no licensing, education, or advertising requirements. . . .

Testimony described the type of harm caused by nonlawyer Medicaid planners which includes denial of Medicaid eligibility, exploitation, catastrophic or severe tax liability, and the purchase of inappropriate financial products threatening or destroying clients’ life savings. The potential for public harm is even greater when the nonlawyers put themselves in a position of reliance and advising the customer as to the proper course of action to take. In order to protect the public from harm, it is the opinion of the Standing Committee that the activities described herein constitute the unlicensed practice of law and should not be authorized.”

Consequently, non-lawyers who engage in Medicaid planning are involved in the unlicensed practice of law, which in Florida is a felony.

If you are going to consult with an experienced elder law attorney, the sooner the better. If you wait, it may be too late to take some steps available to preserve substantial assets for the family. Whether your initial consultation is in advance of the actual need for Medicaid benefits to pay for nursing home care, or on a crisis basis because your spouse or elderly parent has just been determined to need Medicaid, we can help. To schedule a consultation, just call us at (904) 448-1969.

The cost of long term care continues to rise, even if slightly for 2016 compared to 2015. The median cost of a private nursing home room in the United States has increased slightly to $92,378 a year, up 1.24 percent from 2015, according to Genworth’s 2016 Cost of Care survey, which the insurer conducts annually. Genworth reports that the median cost of a semi-private room in a nursing home is $82,125, up 2.27 percent from 2015. The rise in prices is modest compared to the 4.2 percent and 3.8 percent gains, respectively, in 2015.

Florida experienced increases in the cost of long term care similar to the national averages:

The price rise was even lower for assisted living facilities, where the median rate ticked up only .78 percent, to $3,628 a month. The national median rate for the services of a home health aide was $20 an hour, the same rate as 2015, and the cost of adult day care, which provides support services in a protective setting during part of the day, actually fell from $69 to $68 a day.

Alaska continues to be the costliest state for nursing home care, with the median annual cost of long term care in a private nursing home room totaling $297,840. Oklahoma again was found to be the most affordable state, with a median annual cost of long term care in a private room of $60,225, which did not increase in 2016.

While prices may not have increased drastically from last year, the survey found that Americans underestimate the cost of in-home long-term care by almost 50 percent. Thirty percent believe it will be less than $417 a month. In fact, an in-home aide working 44 hours a month would cost $3,861, according to Genworth. Proper spend down planning can allow you to qualify for Medicaid benefits to pay the cost of long term care in assisted living facilities and skilled nursing homes.

The 2016 survey was based on responses from more than 15,000 nursing homes, assisted living facilities, adult day health facilities and home care providers. The survey was conducted by phone during January and February of 2016.medicaid planning lawyer elder law attorney to pay for cost of long term care

If your personal assets are not sufficient to cover the costs of long term care, and you do not have long term care insurance, then your only real option to pay for long term care, especially in a skilled nursing home, is to qualify for Medicaid benefits under the Florida Institution Care Program (ICP). We can help you preserve your remaining assets and qualify for Medicaid to pay for your long term care costs. If you, or a loved one, need skilled nursing home care, schedule an appointment with us to determine how we can help you qualify for Medicaid benefits to pay for nursing home care and other cost of long term care, and legally preserve your assets for yourself, your spouse and your family.

Prepare Your Florida QIT Right Here, Right Now

The irrevocable Florida qualified income trust, or "Miller Trust." that you can prepare online, for a fixed fee of $295. The trust document is reviewed by Florida elder law attorney C. Randolph Coleman. Mr. Coleman has been a practicing attorney and member of The Florida Bar for over 30 years.

Mr. Coleman has focused exclusively on elder law in Florida and estate planning matters for the past 30+ years, and has prepared hundreds of qualified income trusts that have been accepted by the Florida Department of Children and Families (or its predecessor HRS) to allow elderly skilled nursing home residents to qualify for Medicaid benefits to pay for the skilled nursing home cost.

The qualified income trust that is prepared online is guaranteed to be accepted by DCAF or you will receive a full refund of your purchase.

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Order Your Qualified Income Trust Here

The irrevocable Florida qualified income trust, or "Miller Trust." that you prepare online, for a fixed fee of $295. The trust document is reviewed by Florida elder law attorney C. Randolph Coleman. Mr. Coleman has been a practicing attorney and member of The Florida Bar for over 30 years. If you would like a telephone consultation with Mr. Coleman, or an email consultation with him regarding the qualified income trust, you can purchase those services by clicking here for a telephone consultation, and by clicking here for an email consultation.

Experienced Elder Law Attorney

Mr. Coleman has focused exclusively on elder law in Florida and estate planning matters for the past 30+ years, and has prepared hundreds of qualified income trusts that have been accepted by the Florida Department of Children and Families (or its predecessor HRS) to allow elderly skilled nursing home residents to qualify for Medicaid benefits to pay for the skilled nursing home cost. Mr. Coleman is a member of The Florida Bar Elder Law Section and the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of The Florida Bar. He is rated by his professional peers AV (preeminent) by Martindale-Hubbell and has a 10.0 rating (Superb) by AVVO. He is a member of ElderCounsel, LLC, The National Association of Elder Law Attorneys, The Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys, the National Care Planning Council, and WealthCounsel, LLC.

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